Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Porter County, IN

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
18127
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Expired on 2025-10-15. Plan: Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381), approved 2020-10-16.

Since the plan was approved on 2020-10-16: 3 new hazard declarations (2 incidents) and 170 NOAA Storm Events records; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($25,173,189 a year), Tornado ($14,061,291) and Cold Wave ($12,998,909).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Expired on 2025-10-15
Plan:
Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)
Approved:
2020-10-16
Days since expiry:
350
Update underway:
none recorded in FEMA's plan tracker

Until a new plan is approved, FEMA mitigation project grants (HMGP, FMA) need a FEMA exception (44 CFR 201.6(a)(3)).

What changed since your last plan (approved 2020-10-16)

New federal declarations:
3 new hazard declarations (2 incidents): EM-3641-IN (Severe Winter Storm), EM-3651-IN (Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding), DR-4933-IN (Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding)
Storm Events records since approval:
170 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 1, SRL 1 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 17
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryNotes
Porter CountyCountyExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350
Beverly Shores townTownExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350this jurisdiction approved 2021-06-01
Burns Harbor townTownExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350this jurisdiction approved 2021-03-23
Chesterton townTownExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350this jurisdiction approved 2021-06-01
Dune Acres townTownExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350this jurisdiction approved 2020-02-23
Hebron townTownExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350this jurisdiction approved 2021-07-22
Kouts townTownExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350this jurisdiction approved 2021-03-23
Ogden Dunes townTownExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350this jurisdiction approved 2021-03-23
Portage cityCityExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350this jurisdiction approved 2021-06-01
Porter townTownExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350this jurisdiction approved 2021-06-01
Town of Pines townTownExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350
Valparaiso cityCityExpired on 2025-10-15Porter County 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 106381)2020-10-162025-10-15-350this jurisdiction approved 2021-07-22

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$24,677,180$119,396$376,612$25,173,18963
2TornadoRelatively HighRelatively High$5,953,056$831$8,107,403$14,061,29112
3Cold WaveRelatively HighRelatively High$53$18,961$12,979,894$12,998,90917Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
4Strong WindRelatively HighRelatively High$743,850$4,634$2,065,473$2,813,957249Includes 26 High Wind and 3 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
5Heat WaveRelatively LowRelatively Low$9,933$1$1,180,654$1,190,5888
6EarthquakeRelatively LowRelatively Low$862,902n/a$107,815$970,717Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
7LightningRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$37,826n/a$349,672$387,49816
8Winter WeatherRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$4,391$511$192,834$197,73590
9HailVery LowRelatively Low$151,199$8,720$5,672$165,59177
10WildfireVery LowRelatively Low$92,473$35$19,010$111,5190No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
11Ice StormRelatively LowRelatively Low$7,445n/a$90,854$98,2994
12HurricaneVery LowVery Low$2,602$1,436$1$4,0390No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
13Coastal FloodingVery LowVery Low$3,619n/a$398$4,0171
14LandslideVery LowVery Low$637n/a$1,710$2,3470No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
15DroughtNo RatingNo Expected Annual Lossesn/a$0n/a$04
TsunamiInsufficient DataInsufficient Datan/an/an/an/a0No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local wildfire, landslide and tsunami records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Coastal Flooding and Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 510.09 (Relatively Low, 63.3); tract 502.03 (Relatively Low, 63.0); tract 505.09 (Relatively Low, 62.8)
Hurricanetract 511.02 (Very Low, 27.5); tract 510.09 (Very Low, 26.5); tract 510.10 (Very Low, 24.3)
Landslidetract 501.07 (Relatively Low, 89.4); tract 503.02 (Relatively Low, 87.1); tract 510.05 (Relatively Low, 87.0)
Tornadotract 502.03 (Very High, 96.7); tract 505.08 (Very High, 95.9); tract 505.06 (Very High, 95.9)
Tsunamino tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Wildfiretract 510.05 (Relatively Low, 84.6); tract 501.05 (Relatively Low, 84.3); tract 506.06 (Relatively Low, 83.3)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 510.09 is Census Tract 510.09). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tidenone in data (flood depth: FIRM)1 record, 2010 (1 zone-level)Coastal Flood, 2010-12-12, $5,000 property; $0 crops (2010 dollars); NWS zone INZ002Countywide (zone-level records).Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill16 records, 1996 to 2026 (16 zone-level)1 day to 3 days (median 2 days); 15 with a recorded value3 consecutive days, 2024-01-14 to 2024-01-16, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage1 record, 2004 (1 zone-level)No crop damage reported in 1 record.Countywide (zone-level records).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)4 records, 2023 to 2024 (4 zone-level)22 days to 36 days (median 29 days); 2 with a recorded value36 days (about 1.2 months), 2023-06-13 to 2023-07-18, a run of 2 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)91 records, 1960 to 20260.75 in to 2 in (median 1 in); 91 with a recorded value2 in hail, 1997-05-05Hail, 2006-08-23, $500,000 property; crops not reported (2006 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Valparaiso city (19 records), Hebron town (10 records), Chesterton town (9 records), Portage city (8 records), Porter town (3 records), Burns Harbor town (2 records), Kouts town (2 records), Dune Acres town (1 record), Ogden Dunes town (1 record), Town of Pines town (1 record).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)8 records, 2012 to 2026 (8 zone-level)1 day to 4 days (median 2 days); 8 with a recorded value4 consecutive days, 2012-07-04 to 2012-07-07, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)4 records, 2007 to 2021 (4 zone-level)No damage reported in 4 records.Countywide (zone-level records).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)63 records, 1996 to 2026 (7 zone-level)Flash Flood, 2014-08-22, $10,000,000 property; $0 crops (2014 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Valparaiso city (13 records), Hebron town (10 records), Ogden Dunes town (6 records), Portage city (4 records), Burns Harbor town (2 records), Dune Acres town (2 records), Kouts town (2 records), Chesterton town (1 record), Porter town (1 record), Town of Pines town (1 record). Zone-level records (7) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)16 records, 1996 to 2012Lightning, 2007-09-25, $50,000 property; $0 crops (2007 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Chesterton town (6 records), Valparaiso city (5 records), Portage city (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)29 records, 1996 to 2026 (29 zone-level)46 kt (53 mph) to 57 kt (66 mph) (median 51 kt (59 mph)); 28 with a recorded value57 kt (66 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2013-11-17; NWS zone INZ002High Wind, 2010-10-26, $50,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2010 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)247 records, 1960 to 202650 kt (58 mph) to 85 kt (98 mph) (median 55 kt (63 mph)); 223 with a recorded value85 kt (98 mph) estimated gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2007-08-15Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Valparaiso city (39 records), Chesterton town (23 records), Portage city (23 records), Kouts town (18 records), Hebron town (9 records), Ogden Dunes town (8 records), Porter town (6 records), Dune Acres town (3 records), Town of Pines town (3 records), Beverly Shores town (2 records); and 1 more jurisdiction (see the Excel file).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)29 records, 1958 to 2026F/EF0 to F/EF3 (median F/EF1); 25 with a recorded valueF3 tornado, 1965-04-11, 14.8 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 33 yd wide, $25,000,000 property; crops not recorded (1965 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Hebron town (3 records), Kouts town (2 records), Beverly Shores town (1 record), Chesterton town (1 record).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Tsunaminone (count and damage only)0
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)90 records, 1997 to 2026 (90 zone-level)Winter Storm, 2010-12-11, $75,000 property; $0 crops (2010 dollars); NWS zone INZ002Countywide (zone-level records).

Where a hazard names more than 10 jurisdictions, the table lists the 10 with the most records; every one is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-c Extent".

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow, lightning and tsunami.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 16 declarations covering 12 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2026-08-252026-08-11DR-4933-INMajor disasterSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Strong Wind, Tornadonot yet in FEMA's PA summaries (they cover declarations through 2026-06-30)new since last plan; within last 5 years
2026-08-152026-08-11EM-3651-INEmergencySevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Strong Wind, Tornadonot yet in FEMA's PA summaries (they cover declarations through 2026-06-30)new since last plan; within last 5 yearssame incident as DR-4933
2026-01-242026-01-23EM-3641-INEmergencySevere Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recordednew since last plan; within last 5 years
2020-04-032020-01-20DR-4515-INMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$585,581.68in the 12 months before plan approval
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3456-INEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedin the 12 months before plan approvalsame incident as DR-4515
2018-05-042018-02-14DR-4363-INMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Flooding$647,588.02
2008-09-232008-09-12DR-1795-INMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Flooding$1,392,390.89
2007-03-122007-02-12EM-3274-INEmergencySnowWinter Weather$185,164.72
2005-09-102005-08-29EM-3238-INEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2005-01-212005-01-01DR-1573-INMajor disasterSevere Winter Storms and FloodingInland Flooding; Winter WeatherPA not declared for this county
2003-07-112003-07-04DR-1476-INMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding; TornadoPA not declared for this county
2001-01-242000-12-11EM-3162-INEmergencySnowWinter Weather$188,992.12
1999-01-151999-01-01EM-3135-INEmergencyIn-Winter Storm 12/23/98Winter Weather$217,112.25
1998-05-081998-03-09DR-1217-INMajor disasterSevere Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1992-09-181992-06-16DR-962-INMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingInland Flooding; Tornadono Public Assistance recorded
1991-01-051990-12-28DR-891-INMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland FloodingPA not declared for this county

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
2002-06-132002-04-28DR-1418-INMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingInland Flooding; Tornado
1964-03-171964-03-17DR-162-INMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Flooding
1961-05-201961-05-20DR-113-INMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1954-10-261954-10-26DR-30-INMajor disasterFloodInland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Coastal Flooding1000001996 to 2026-06-30
Cold Wave17706001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record.
Drought4404001996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail9110610001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave8707001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Ice Storm4100001996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding631098711996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning16000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind276921780111955 to 2026-06-30Includes 26 High Wind and 3 Strong Wind records.
Tornado29807311950 to 2026-06-30
Tsunami0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather9031026611996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2025-03-30Thunderstorm Wind70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust$0 property; $0 crops (2025 dollars)1, 0(VPZ) PORTER COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORTnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsdeaths or injuries recorded
2024-01-14Extreme Cold/Wind Chill$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2024 dollars)0, 0NWS zone INZ002 (PORTER), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2014-08-22Flash Flood$10,000,000 property; $0 crops (2014 dollars)0, 0SOUTH HAVEN to VALPARAISOB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2013-11-17High Wind57 kt (66 mph) measured gust$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2013 dollars)0, 0NWS zone INZ002 (PORTER), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2012-07-04Excessive Heat$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2012 dollars)0, 0NWS zone INZ002 (PORTER), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2010-12-11Winter Storm$75,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2010 dollars)0, 0NWS zone INZ002 (PORTER), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
2008-09-14Flash Flood$2,000,000 property; $0 crops (2008 dollars)2, 0OGDEN DUNES to TREMONTdeaths or injuries recorded
2007-09-25Lightning$50,000 property; $0 crops (2007 dollars)0, 0PORTAGEB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
2007-08-15Thunderstorm Wind85 kt (98 mph) estimated gust$2,500,000 property; $0 crops (2007 dollars)0, 0HURLBURT to CLANRICARDEB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2007-05-15Thunderstorm Wind55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust$15,000 property; $0 crops (2007 dollars)1, 0SOUTH HAVENdeaths or injuries recorded
1997-05-05Hail2 indamage not reported0, 0HEBRONB1-c worst recorded: Hail
1965-04-11TornadoF3, 14.8 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 33 yd wide$25,000,000 property; crops not recorded (1965 dollars)0, 0location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Tornado

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (599 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Coastal Flooding0.0127events per year at a location (modeled)about 0.013 per year at a given location in the countyPossibleStorm Events records in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Cold Wave3.53event-days per yearabout 3.53 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 11 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (36.7%)672005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought0event-days per yearnone modeledPossibleStorm Events event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)02000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywideNRI models no drought event-days here (2000 to 2025, 25.25 years; D3 and D4 only); Storm Events has a record in 2 of 30 years. The descriptor comes from Storm Events, which counts D2 drought that NRI leaves out.
Earthquake0.00127annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.127%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail3.29events per yearabout 3.29 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)127.6 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave3.11event-days per yearabout 3.11 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)502005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.00948events per yearabout 1 in 105 yearsUnlikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)21851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm1.11event-days per yearabout 1.11 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)621946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding1.54event-days per yearabout 1.54 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 20 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (66.7%)431996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.0914events per year (modeled)about 1 in 11 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning43.3days per year with a strikeabout 43.3 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind5.26events per yearabout 5.26 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)1651986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.318events per yearabout 1 in 3 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Tsunamiannual probability at the most exposed location (used in place of a county value)Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Wildfire0.000503annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.0503%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather15.6event-days per yearabout 15.6 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 25 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (83.3%)2962005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 202545301.5
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20251300.0333
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 2025181306.03
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 202528300.933
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20253300.1
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20257300.233
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20251300.0333
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20251300.0333

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Coastal Flooding9 of 4268.771.380.2Relatively Low 2, Very Low 7, No Rating 33
Cold Wave42 of 4215.587.996.6Very High 2, Relatively High 33, Relatively Moderate 5, Very Low 2
Drought0 of 42No Rating 42
Earthquake42 of 4217.934.463.3Relatively Low 15, Very Low 27
Hail42 of 4222.235.552.5Relatively Low 15, Very Low 27
Heat Wave42 of 421.834.861.2Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 36, Very Low 4
Hurricane42 of 4212.617.227.5Very Low 42
Ice Storm42 of 421.126.448.7Relatively Low 11, Very Low 31
Inland Flooding42 of 421.437.291.1Relatively High 3, Relatively Moderate 9, Relatively Low 21, Very Low 9
Landslide42 of 4218.161.789.4Relatively Low 6, Very Low 36
Lightning42 of 420.839.061.7Relatively Moderate 8, Relatively Low 31, Very Low 3
Strong Wind42 of 4222.780.992.7Relatively High 15, Relatively Moderate 25, Relatively Low 2
Tornado42 of 4241.881.596.7Very High 8, Relatively High 23, Relatively Moderate 9, Relatively Low 2
Tsunami0 of 42Insufficient Data 42
Wildfire41 of 4218.566.484.6Relatively Low 19, Very Low 22, No Rating 1
Winter Weather42 of 4214.160.979.3Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 34, Relatively Low 5, Very Low 2

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are.

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its plan
Porter CountyCountyExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 0, SRL 1; any 10$46,796.250 total; 0 since its plan
Beverly Shores townTownExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$19,329.183 total; 3 since its plan
Burns Harbor townTownExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$34,275.536 total; 2 since its plan
Chesterton townTownExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 1, SRL 0; any 3$422,242.7940 total; 4 since its plan
Dune Acres townTownExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded6 total; 2 since its plan
Hebron townTownExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded32 total; 7 since its plan
Kouts townTownExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$4,738.4624 total; 10 since its plan
Ogden Dunes townTownExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$17,717.6715 total; 6 since its plan
Portage cityCityExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 1$583,837.0936 total; 14 since its plan
Porter townTownExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$5,797.5010 total; 4 since its plan
Town of Pines townTownExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded5 total; 2 since its plan
Valparaiso cityCityExpired on 2025-10-15FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 3$83,522.2576 total; 11 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2020-10-16county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Coastal Flooding$1,021,103,135n/a2,859$3,619n/a$3980.000354%
Cold Wave$41,360,154,928$99,529,804173,161$53$18,961$12,979,894under 0.0001%$0
Droughtn/a$0n/an/a$0n/a$0agriculture exposure is 0 in NRI
Earthquake$69,711,679,662n/a173,215$862,902n/a$107,8150.00124%
Hail$41,360,154,928$99,529,804173,161$151,199$8,720$5,6720.000366%$0
Heat Wave$41,360,154,928$99,529,804173,161$9,933$1$1,180,654under 0.0001%$0
Hurricane$41,254,782,231$94,791,567172,671$2,602$1,436$1under 0.0001%
Ice Storm$41,357,065,462n/a173,152$7,445n/a$90,854under 0.0001%$0
Inland Flooding$41,311,316,422$6,722,0651,013$24,677,180$119,396$376,612n/a (see note)$02 declarations not yet in FEMA's PA summaries (they cover declarations through 2026-06-30)NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$501,632,851n/a1,507$637n/a$1,7100.000127%
Lightning$41,360,154,928n/a173,161$37,826n/a$349,672under 0.0001%
Strong Wind$41,360,154,928$99,529,804173,161$743,850$4,634$2,065,4730.0018%$0$02 declarations not yet in FEMA's PA summaries (they cover declarations through 2026-06-30)
Tornado$41,360,154,928$99,529,804173,161$5,953,056$831$8,107,4030.0144%$02 declarations not yet in FEMA's PA summaries (they cover declarations through 2026-06-30)
Tsunamin/an/an/an/an/an/aNRI publishes no building exposure for this county
Wildfire$2,824,414,749$9,235,08921,829$92,473$35$19,0100.00327%
Winter Weather$41,360,154,928$99,529,804173,161$4,391$511$192,834under 0.0001%$0no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)

Totals since 2020-10-16 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 113 county-coded records, 113 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0; 57 zone-level records, 57 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: none recorded on 1 of the 3 counted declarations; 2 not yet in FEMA's PA summaries (they cover declarations through 2026-06-30).

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population173,161
Building value (total, not at risk)$41,360,154,928
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$99,529,804
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Moderate
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$32,701,691
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$25,478,003
Social vulnerability ratingVery Low
Community resilience ratingVery High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)1Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)1
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition17Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition1

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total111711703
of which: Chesterton town1030302
of which: Portage city0010100
of which: Valparaiso city0030300
of which: Porter County (unincorporated area)011011001
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file0060600

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Porter County180425011011001
Beverly Shores town1851730000000
Burns Harbor town1802070000000
Chesterton town1802011030302
Dune Acres town1802050000000
Hebron town1803870000000
Kouts town1803350000000
Ogden Dunes town1802060000000
Portage city1802020010100
Porter town1802080000000
Town of Pines town1803880000000
Valparaiso city1802040030300

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential101201203
2 to 4 unit residential0000000
other residential0010100
non-residential0141400
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 16 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Porter County, IN: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 18127). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/in/18127/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: [email protected]